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We’ve all heard about how important our “WHY” is for our business - right?
Simon Sinek’s Golden circle is a well known meme of the business world.
And I’m guessing you’ve been in one of those meetings where you sit down and nut out your business plan or strategy and talk about the Vision of your company, your Mission and your Values.
But there’s a big gap that no-one’s talking about when it comes to your golden circle.
In this episode I share what this gap is and why it holds most businesses back.
If you’d like help addressing this gap, feel free to reach out and connect with me via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenkress89/
Or via my website here: https://www.laurenkress.com/
Also want to take this opportunity to thank all my guests over the past month:
Sandy Barker on publishing and pursuing her dream of becoming a novelist
Zach Kleyn on redesigning your life
Faye Were on reaching your full potential
Ken Zulumovski on Leadership and Community Healing
Joshua Lisec on Storytelling and Authorship for Business Success
Carlie Maree on Soul Modes - a new framework for thinking about motivation
Donna Febus on Cash Flow and Coping with Rapid Change
John North on how to generate business from self-publishing your book
Ricardo Guiterrez on the importance of asking questions
Julie Garland on Governance and The Director’s Dilemma

Julie Garland McLellan is a professional company director and boardroom expert. She is the author of The Director's Dilemma which is the world's most widely read independent director publication.
To subscribe to the Director's Dilemma head to: https://www.directorsdilemma.com/
And to connect with Julie you can find her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/juliegarlandmclellan/

Ricardo Gutierrez is the Director and Founder Bedssi Accommodation Solutions Australia and Host of The Innovator Diaries Podcast where leaders from all industries give practical, transferable advice from personal experiences.
Ricardo has travelled to over 60 countries, 400 cities & 5 continents and is passionate about sharing the stories of innovators and influencers from all areas and walks of life, to understand key aspects of success, and how people go from being good at what they do, to great and outstanding.
To find out more about Ricardo you can find him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rigutie/
And to check out Ricardo's podcast the Innovator Diaries head to: http://innovatordiaries.com/

John North is a 5 Time International Best Selling Author and a versatile and experienced entrepreneur with a solid background in Accounting, Banking, Finance, Personal Development IT, Marketing and Business Management.
John currently holds a number of titles, including CEO of Evolve Systems Group, Associate Diploma in Business (Accounting) and Fellow of the Institute of Public Accountants.
John’s passion is to help business owners become more strategic and smarter about their marketing efforts. He constantly pushes the envelope of what’s possible in this modern era and is widely regarded among his peers as very innovative and highly creative in his approach.
You can connect with John on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnorth1085/
Find out more about Evolve Systems Group here: https://evolvesystemsgroup.com.au/index
And Check out the Evolvepreneur app here: https://evolvepreneur.app/index

Donna Febus is a growth advisor who works with business owners to maximise profitability.
Donna works differently to your traditional accountant - because what she’s looking at goes way beyond the financials.
This is about making a significant difference to your income and your ease of operations to increase the value of your business.
To find out more about Donna you can connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/donnafebus/
Or you can visit her website: https://iatllc.net/

Carlie Maree is a high performance coach for ambitious women and creator of the revolutionary framework, Soul Modes. She helps women track and hack their motivational roller coaster and to see the magic that's within them.
But this episode isn't just for the ladies. As Carlie explains, some of her most amazing feedback has also come from men who have experienced the transformation this work has in their relationships with their partners.
To find out more about Carlie visit: Carliemaree.com
Or you can find her on Facebook here: www.facebook.com/mscarliemaree or on instagram here: instagram.com/mscarliemaree
Want to share your thoughts about this episode? Join the conversation with the hashtag #makeyourmark

Wondering how storytelling will help you win BIG in business?
What are the tips and tricks you can use to grow your brand?
Wondering if publishing a book will help you generate ROI?
My guest today is Joshua Lisec - #1 International Bestselling Ghostwriter & TEDx SpeakerEvery day
Joshua helps authors manifest the mission behind their voice. He is founder of The Entrepreneur’s Wordsmith LLC, Ohio’s first Certified Ghostwriter, and a #1 International Bestselling Ghostwriter. Since 2011, he has ghostwritten forty books.
To find out more about Joshua and check out the awesome tools we discuss in this episode head to: https://entrepreneurswordsmith.com/
You can also connect with Joshua via LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joshualisec/
Or Follow him on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/entrepreneurswordsmith/
Got something to say about the show? Join the discussion using our new hashtag #MakeYourMark

Ken Zulumovski Hon DHSc ‘Kira-dhan, (Kabi Kabi First Nations) is the Founder & Managing Director of Gamarada Universal Indigenous Resources & Gamarada Indigenous Healing and Life Training
Ken’s spheres of influence include the Mental health, Education, Justice, Health Care and Employment spaces and Community Engagement across the Social and Emotional Well Being and Healing spectrums.
In 2019 Ken received the honorary award of ‘Doctor of Health Sciences’, by The University of Sydney.
To find out more about Ken and his work you can find him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kenzulumovski/
To find out more about Gamarada Universal Indigenous Resources visit: http://guir.com.au/

If you're thinking about taking a leap into your business full time - this episode is a great source of encouragement Faye Were is from the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia
She is the business owner of Gift of Freedom an online business with a product opportunity in Personal Development
Faye has a passion to see people be all they can be.
To find out more about Faye Were you can connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/faye-were-giftoffreedom/
Or visit her website: https://www.faye-ian-were.com

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Really excited to share this episode for your weekend (or, long weekend if for some!) with our inspiring guest, Zach Kleyn who helps innovative professionals get the confidence to redesign their lives.
Years ago Zach Kleyn began the transition from being a starving performance artist to a successful entrepreneur.
Zach's current six-figure coaching business helps exhausted creative professionals to powerfully re-imagine their lives and careers, using all of his diverse training and experience in creativity, play, & psychology.
You can find out more about Zach on Instagram: @zachkleyn
Or by visiting his website: www.zachkleyn.com

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Very excited to have Dave Clare - The Prophet For Purpose joining me on #theoyster LIVE this morning.
Dave is a leader for a new generation of purpose-driven leaders.
He is a coach, speaker and published author of the book that simplifies leadership - SIMPLIFIED.
To find out more about Dave and the incredible work he does visit:
www.daveclare.com
To purchase a copy of Dave's book head to:
http://leadershipissimple.com/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Sandy Barker has been an educator in various roles for more than twenty years - across K-12, professional development and higher ed. She has also worked in tech, tourism, content development and editing and most recently has added published author to her CV.
To find out more about Sandy and her debut novel One Summer in Santorini head to: https://sandybarker.com/
You can also connect with Sandy on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sandrabarker/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Why am I so passionate about helping businesses succeed?
Every week I dedicate at least 8 hours to making my podcast show The Oyster with Lauren Kress possible.
Why?
Because I believe that conscious, evolved businesses that understand how to make their staff and their customers happier make the world a better place. What do you think the role of business is in society?
A big thank you to all of our June & July guests for helping me make this podcast possible!
Stella Gianotto from Brands for Brands Agency on Byron Sharp's 2-part series How Brands Grow
Jessica Kinny from Kinny Legal for explaining how businesses can legally protect themselves
Adam Cox from 1gnition on how to reduce stress and live a happier life.
Brett Campbell from Claxon sharing the importance of cutting through the noise and the 5 lenses of marketing.
Global branding expert Evander Duck III from over in NYC to talk about how to live your brand and put customer experience at the centre of your business
and Robert A. Crowe from Leading for Purpose who explained the conflict that can arise in the boardroom and the role of the Chair to help non-profit boards and their organisations to thrive. #marketing #customers #leadership #smallbusiness

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Robert Crowe is the CEO of Leading for Purpose, he is a coach and mentor for non-profit chairs and boards looking to inspire change and lead their organisation to make a more purposeful impact.
To find out more about Robert and the work he does you can head to his website: https://www.leadingforpurpose.com.au/
Or reach out to connect with him on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertacrowe/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Evander Duck III is an advertising agency professional based in NYC with experience working with top global brands.
These days, he is passionate about navigating the marketing landscape in the tech-driven world.
You can find out more about Evan and the work he does on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/evanderduck/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Brett Campbell is a serial Entrepreneur and has founded 2 of Australasia's fastest growing companies in there respected fields, Fiit International, the fastest growing fitness franchise at its time and Campbell Media Group (now Claxon Agency) which recently won the accolade of 2018 Best Small Agency of the Year award for Australia and NZ.
You can connect with Brett on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/brettocampbell/
Find out more about Claxon Agency here: https://claxon.agency/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Adam Cox from 1GNITION, helps people lose weight and become unexplainably happy and healthy through breaking the patterns of addictions, bad habits, overwhelm, anxiety & depression.
To find out more about Adam and the life changing work he does, visit: https://1gnition.com/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Jessica Kinny, is the founder of Kinny Legal and an award winning specialist in business law. Her firm helps innovative companies reduce risk, resolve disputes, negotiate great deals, and grow to their full potential.
You can make use of the free resources Jessica and her team provide here: https://www.kinnylegal.com/
You can connect with Jessica on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jessicakinny/
This episode is sponsored by The Change Makers Collective, Transforming Your Business From the Inside Out and The Outside In: www.thechangemakers.org.au

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Very excited to be releasing this special episode this week where we talk about Prof Byron Sharp's How Brands Grow specifically in relation to some of the controversial discussion that has occurred around differentiation vs. distinctiveness.
Joining me to explore this topic is award-winning brand expert Stella Gianotto!
Stella is the founder of Brand for Brands Agency creates brands for a purpose, profit or a legacy. She has developed 1000 brands worked with over 3000 more.
Her brands have been on the oprah winfrey show and worn by celebrities.

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
It's time for another episode of The Oyster REWIND!
Another incredible month packed full of insights on the science behind better business which is what we're all about!
A big thank you to: Marty Vids for an enlightening, inspiring and life-changing chat on having a #growthmindset
Edward Zia from Excellence Above Coaching for sharing the 3 things that business owners need to do to thrive with #linkedinmarketing
Anthea Stevanovic from Intelligent Directions for her insights on #customerservice and going the extra mile for #businessgrowth
Scott Carroll for sharing a fresh perspective on organisational health and #workplacewellbeing
Jules Brooke from Handle Your Own PR who explains how to get your business in the #media and the outcomes this can drive for your business
Harout Dekermendjian from the FAO of the United Nations to talk about #corporatesocialresponsibility
To Nathan Kinch from Greater than X and inventor of data trust by design to talk #trustworthiness, business ethics and #customercentricity
Justin Womack co-host of the Marketing Geeks Podcast to talk about the challenges we face in #marketing and how to overcome them
Nathan Hirsch CEO of FreeeUp for sharing his story of growing a multi-million dollar platform for high quality #remotework and
Dr Farshid Pahlevani senior research fellow at UNSW to talk about turning waste into profit #wasteisprofit

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
In this fascinating episode, CEO of Greater than X Nathan Kinch, shares his vision of true customer-centric design and supporting organisations to become worthy of their customers' trust.
Nathan Kinch, is the inventor of Data Trust by Design. For more information about Nathan and the work he does head to: https://www.greaterthanexperience.desig…
Nathan also mentions a number of resources to explore this topic in more detail - if you'd like to find out more - here's where you can go:
Data Trust by Design, 2019: A practical playbook introducing the principles, practices and patterns of Data Trust by Design. It's supported with real life, global case studies.
Enter GREATERTHANTRUST to get it free: https://www.greaterthanexperience.desig…
Rebuilding Trust in Financial Services, 2019: With trust at an all time low, particularly in Financial services, the industry is being forced to rethink how it is structured, how it treats its customers and how it creates value.
This playbook covers practical approaches to support organisations in becoming truly worthy of people's trust. https://www.greaterthanexperience.desig…
A day in the life of data:
This is an overview of the research we supported the CPRC in conducting. It dives deep into the current state of the information economy. https://medium.com/…/a-day-in-the-life-…

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
The FAO is the Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations working towards #zerohunger
In this episode I speak with FAO commodity market analyst Harout Dekermendjian to talk about the impact businesses can make in the world by making corporate social responsibility (CSR) part of their business DNA.
You can connect with Harout on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hdekermendjian/
And find out more about the FAO and the work their doing to end world hunger here http://www.fao.org/home/en/ #zerohunger

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
In this episode of #theoyster I speak with Jules Brooke, founder of Handle Your Own PR about the amazing results her clients get from getting free press coverage.
Jules is passionate about helping small business owners and entrepreneurs learn how to run their own PR campaigns.
Jules helps her clients grow their business by showing them how to craft and share their stories with the media.
To find out more about Jules and the work she does head to her website: https://www.handleyourownpr.com.au/
You can also connect with Jules on her LinkedIn page here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julesbrooke/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Scott Carroll is a curious, creative and analytical thinker who is changing the way we think about organisational health and workplace wellbeing.
He is an experienced psychologist, counsellor, change facilitator, project manager and adult educator.
To find out more about Scott and his work, visit: http://mindboosts.com/
You can also connect with Scott via LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-carroll-8b92706/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Anthea Stevanovic of Intelligent Directions is a business consultant who focuses on creating Strategic Direction, Efficiency and Growth for the businesses she works with.
She also happens to be one of the smartest people I know in business and her integrity and compassion is matched by few.
So it was an absolute honour to have Anthea join me on #theoyster to talk customer service, business culture & behavioural norms.
Can't wait to have her on the show again!
To find out more about Anthea head to:
www.intelligentdirections.com.au
or follow her on Facebook here: https://www.facebook.com/IntelligentDirections/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Edward Zia from Excellence Above explains the common myth many business fall prey to that "getting customers is easy" and how to combat this by structuring your sales and marketing along with3 things you must do to grow your business with LinkedIn.
Edward Zia is a Marketing Mentor & Coach who loves to help Entrepreneurs Get More Clients, More Money & More Time!
You can connect with Ed on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/edwardzia/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
In today's episode we have an enlightening, inspiring and life-changing chat with Marty Vids !
Marty is a business mentor, mindset coach and host of The Marty Vids Show Podcast. His mission in life is to inspire people to explore more meaningful, happier and productive personal and professional lives.
Get in touch with Marty on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyvids/
And check out his website and podcast here: https://www.martyvids.com.au/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Plenty of great insights from my FB Live and podcast guests this past month!
Here's the highlights and a big thank you to all our amazing guests:
Carmen Williams from Communicate For Greatness on Gaining Clarity by focusing on what's most important
Samantha Payne from The Pink Elephants Support Network on staying in your own lane
Shay ☀️ Rowbottom - a woman who needs no introduction - on viral videos and how to do what works (and not necessarily what's "original")
Peter Cook from Thought Leaders on how intelligent people can be commercially smart
Adin Milostnik a creative entrepreneur, illustrator and musician...who accidentally got hired as a writer
GG Frantz on cultic relationships and workplaces and how to break free of the fear to change your life
I am blown away to have had the privilege to speak and connect with so many awe-inspiring business and industry leaders and so excited by the guests we have lined up for you in May including Marty Vids, Edward Zia, Nathan Hirsch, Justin Womack, Dr Farshid Pahlevani and plenty more!
Be sure to subscribe to our podcast show or to my Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/laurenkressconsulting/ or Youtube Channel https://www.youtube.com/c/laurenkress to stay up to date
And if you want to find out more about the 5 Day Challenge to Get UNSTUCK and GROW your Business head to:
www.thebusinessscienceinstitute.com

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Nathan Hirsch is an entrepreneur and expert in remote hiring and eCommerce.
He is the co-founder and CEO of FreeeUp.com, a marketplace that connects businesses with pre-vetted freelancers in eCommerce, digital marketing, and much more.
Nathan has sold over $30 million online and regularly appears on leading business podcasts, such as Entrepreneur on Fire, and speaks at live events about online hiring tactics.
You can follow Nate on social media by searching for @realnatehirsch and you can take advantage of his bonus gift for our listeners by heading to FreeeUp.com

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
If you enjoy listening to marketing podcasts then you've probably heard of my guest today.
It's Justin Womack - co-host of the hit podcast Marketing Geeks!
And if you're trying to work out how to use language and copywriting to grow your coaching or consulting business - then this episode is especially for you!
We talk about how believing this myth could impact how you're feeling about your business and your success - and some strategies for overcoming your barriers to your marketing success by understanding the psychology and neuroscience behind human behaviour.
If you enjoy this make sure you subscribe to our podcast and youtube channel to catch all our episodes about the science behind better business.
You can also catch our LIVE episodes in real-time on our Facebook Page here: https://www.facebook.com/laurenkressconsulting/
And if you want to hear more episodes like this, let us know how much you enjoyed this by giving us a thumbs up and sharing it with any business owners you know who are struggling with their marketing.
Mastering marketing means more businesses can help more people around the world solve all sorts of problems - and it's important to us that you have the tools to make it work for your business 📣
Justin specializes in podcasting, copywriting, email marketing, and Infusionsoft by Keap.
He is also the owner of JMac Media an online marketing service and consulting agency.
If you'd like to check out the Marketing Geeks podcast head to: https://www.marketinggeekspodcast.com

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Dr Farshid Pahlevani is a Research Scientist in materials engineering with 14 years of experience working with manufacturing companies in different countries and 6 patents worldwide.
Dr Farshid provides creative solutions for manufacturing waste products to turn waste into profit.
To find out more about Dr Farshid and the amazing work he and his team are doing - you can follow him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-farshid/
You can also find out more about Dr Farshid by visiting http://www.smart.unsw.edu.au/people/dr-farshid-pahlevani and find links to his publications here: http://www.materials.unsw.edu.au/profile/farshid-pahlevani
We also recommend checking out his recent article on The Conversation here: https://theconversation.com/steel-from-old-tyres-and-ceramics-from-nutshells-how-industry-can-use-our-rubbish-66831

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
In the episode of #theoyster LIVE on Facebook, I'm joined by Speaker, Author and Mentor Peter Cook!
As the CEO of Thought Leaders and Dean of Thought Leaders Business School, Peter is obsessed with helping clever people be commercially smart. You can find out more about Peter and the work he does by visiting www.petercook.com
This is an episode not to be missed - with a special bonus gift for listeners who want to find out more about how Peter helps his clients invoice $500K-$1.5 Million whilst working 50-200 days per year with clients they love!
So much great advice in here - personally, I took so much away from this interview - it was a real eye-opener for me.

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
In our most watched Facebook LIVE episode of #theoyster, we speak with GiGi Frantz former member of the Christian Assemblies International (CAI) a cult that underwent a four year investigation by ABC's Four Corners.
So how does being in a cult affect the way you make decisions?
What happens to your life as a result and how has GiGi used this experience to do what he cares most passionately about: helping others? Find out in this LIVE and exclusive episode.
PLUS We talk about GiGi's mission to empower people and leaders all over Australia to embrace change and do more with less.
GiGi is a praised keynote speaker and a best-selling author.
You can find out more about GiGi Frantz by visiting: https://masteryourmindset.com.au/
Or connect with him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/…/gg-frantz-5…/
You can also find out more about the Four Corners investigation here: https://www.abc.net.au/…/former…/5627794

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Adin Milo is a freelance illustrator who accidentally got hired as a writer and band member of up-and-coming dream-pop outfit, Vast Hill.
In this interview we talk about the struggle that many creatives face as they begin their careers and the importance of entrepreneurship in taking control of your own destiny.
You can find out more about Adin on instagram @adinmiloillustrations
And you can check out his portfolio here: https://adinmilo.myportfolio.com/
You can also catch up on all the latest from Vast Hill here: https://www.vasthill.com/home-1

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Shay Rowbottom creates LinkedIn video content that goes VIRAL - with video views in the hundreds of thousands, Shay's helping businesses get more of their market to know about their brand, more people to see them as experts in their industry, and a steady stream of high quality leads to convert to sales.
Find out more about Shay and the work she does by finding her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shayrowbottom/
You can also visit her website here: https://www.shayrowbottom.com/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Samantha Payne is the Co-Founder & Managing Director of The Pink Elephants Support Network - an emerging charity that offers support, validation and connections to couples going through early pregnancy loss and infertility.
Since recording this interview with Samantha as a Telstra Business Award Finalist for 2019, Sam and her Co-Founder Gabbi Armstrong, have gone onto WIN the 2019 NSW Telstra Women in Business For Purpose and Social Enterprise category.
One of our favourite things about this interview is how honest and candid Sam is about her experiences as a business owner who has had to learn to embrace failure in order to succeed.
In this episode she shares her advice to business owners everywhere who are going through the highs and lows that we all face as we grow our business.
You can connect with Samantha on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/samanthapaynepesn/
And find out more about The Pink Elephants Support Network here: https://pinkelephantssupport.com/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
In this episode I'm joined by Carmen Williams from Communicate for Greatness (on a very stormy night!)
Carmen brings science and communication together to support business owners to grow themselves and their businesses.
You can connect with Carmen on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/…/carmenwilli…/
And you can also connect with Carmen's business partner Maureen Pound here: https://www.linkedin.com/…/maureenpound/

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Hey there business leaders and change makers!
I hope you’ve all had a lovely month. I really can’t believe we’re already in April.
We’ve had some fantastic guests on the show this past month and it’s been fascinating to gain a deeper understanding of different perspectives from experts across a range of industries.
We discussed everything from robots to employee retention and hooking your audience in with an engaging story that is relevant and meaningful to them.
Listen to the highlights from March in this episode of The Oyster Rewind!

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
A big thank you to Tristan Wright, The Business Sherpa and Director of Evolve to Grow for speaking joining us on #theoyster live to talk about the limitations we often put on ourselves and the importance of getting in the right mindset to turnaround a failing business.
Tristan shares his own personal journey towards business success (including how his first 7-figure business nearly went bankrupt before building it back to 7-figures) and how he uses this experience to help his clients step out of their business whilst growing revenue upwards of 6- and 7-figures.
You can find out more about Tristan by visiting: https://www.evolvetogrow.com.au/
Or find him on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tristandw...

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Paul Merrill is the Editor in chief at Bauer Media where he oversees 14 magazine titles, among them Take 5, which has been voted Magazine of the Year for the past three years.
In this episode we discuss the limitations of Facebook and Google for brands that are seeking deeper engagement with their audiences and the big shift the magazine industry has undergone to keep up with advertisers' needs.
Find out more about the integrated solutions Bauer can offer at baueradvertising.com.au

Be sure to subscribe to our podcast to never miss an episode of #theoyster where we ask our expert guests to share their pearls of wisdom about the Science Behind Better Business.
Joining me for this week's episode of #theoyster LIVE is the wonderful Liska Turner!
Liska is an experienced recruiter from Beaumont People.
She specialises in executive recruitment for the charity and for-purpose sector and is genuinely interested in promoting conversation around the opportunities and challenges facing the sector. You can find out more about Liska on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liskaturner/

Kaleb Ufton is a Director of Technology and Digital Marketing Strategy at EKOH Marketing
After working with IBM and Telecom New Zealand, Kaleb moved to Australia. Worked at Optus then moved into a Web Development and AI role with many startups. To find out more about Kaleb and EKOH marketing and the work they do head to https://www.ekohmarketing.com/ where you can also claim a free website audit (Note: There are limited spots!)

In this episode I speak with Scott Anderson from Doubledare, Author of "Playing Big", a mental health therapist and executive business coach who is changing the way agency owners and entrepreneurs think about how to scale their business.
You can find out more about Doubledare and the work Scott does by visiting: https://doubledareyou.us/

Liam Redmond is the Team Lead at GrowthGenius - a data driven sales guy who loves cold brew coffee, lifting weights and outbound sales!
You can find out more about GrowthGenius at: https://www.growthgenius.com/
And you can connect with Liam on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liamredmond1/

We're very excited to be sharing our first ever episode of "The Oyster REWIND" our new monthly podcast episode where we share the highlights from a month of insightful interviews with our expert guests.
In the past month we've spoken with experienced CEOs Amanda Blesing and Tim Smith, non-profit board directors Stephanie Lorenzo and Aaron D'Souza, insightful strategists Hamish Anderson, Pablo Ostalaza and Peta Nicholas and we had psychologist and columnist Dr Marny Lishman speak with us about the importance of self-awareness in business.
This is a bit of an experiment at the moment and we'd love to know what you think of The Oyster Rewind!
Get in touch with our host Lauren Kress on LinkedIn or via her website: www.laurenkress.com

Stephanie Lorenzo is a communications consultant and the Founder of PROJECT FUTURES, a non profit focused on transforming and restoring the lives of those affected by human trafficking and sexual exploitation.
She handed over the organisation after a decade at the helm to pursue other projects. She is now the Communications Director for an global advocacy initiative working to empower women in leadership in the Catholic Church. Steph sits on the Board of Loreto Normanhust and the Generations Foundation.
You can find out more about Project FUTURES by visiting:
https://projectfutures.com/
You can find out more about Overcoming Silence at: https://voicesoffaith.org/
And you can connect with Steph on LinkedIn here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/sklorenzo/

In this episode I'm talking Brand Strategy and business purpose with Pablo Ostolaza.
Pablo is the Co-Founder and Strategy Director at Sonnet a Brand Design studio in Sydney.
He also consults for other agencies and clients. You can find out more about Sonnet at https://wearesonnet.com/ or check out their instagram profile here https://www.instagram.com/wearesonnet/

As one of Australia's freshest thinkers, speakers and mentors on feminine ambition, how to spark it, tackle it and see it flourish, Amanda is on a mission to inspire women everywhere.
She has a track record of helping women to play a much bigger game - with big ideas, even bigger impact and big, audacious bucket loads of confidence.
You can find out more about Amanda by visiting her website: https://www.amandablesing.com/
And also connect with her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/amandablesing/

Aaron D'Souza is the General Manager of Guild Digital and Pharmacy Click and Collect. He is a pharmacist by trade and has evolved into the pharmacy industry's leading voice on digital transformation.
In this episode we focus on how small business owners can take a step back to take an objective look at their business and what retailers, pharmacists and other healthcare professionals need to remember when it comes business acumen, consumer behaviour and revenue growth.
You can find out more about Guild Digital here and Pharmacy Click and Collect here

Joining me today is Hamish Anderson, to talk about the myth of targeting the "low-hanging fruit" for your business growth.
Hamish is the Founder of Three Piece Marketing and Mesh Consulting and is a perspective changer who likes to challenge the accepted, in search of a better solution.
You can find out more about Hamish and the work he does on LinkedIn.

Peta Nicholas is a marketing and communications expert with over a decade of experience working across a range of different industries in both Australia and the UK. Peta is passionate about continued education, customer experience & evolving customer trends.
You can find out more about Peta and the work she does on LinkedIn here:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/peta-nicholas/

Dr Marny Lishman is a Psychologist, Columnist, Keynote Speaker and Media Commentator.
Marny works with individuals and corporate groups to promote personal and professional growth, and speaks on a wide variety of topics to promote mental health across Australia.
You can find out more about Marny at https://www.marnylishman.com.au/ and read her columns on Body and Soul and Perth Now.

Tim Smith is a company startup and automotive leader with expertise in franchising, Marketing Sales Operations and Strategic Planning.
Currently Managing Director of SsangYong Australia he has held senior roles at Haval & Great Wall, Kia, McDonalds, Lion Nathan & Nestle.
Tim believes the most important thing about leadership is motivating other people to achieve their potential and that this is accomplished through leading by example.
You can find out more about Tim and his work on LinkedIn.
Ps. The book Tim mentions is "The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck" by Mark Manson

What’s the MOST important aspect of marketing for your business growth - customer lifetime value, customer retention or customer acquisition?
The answer is not a matter of opinion or guesswork - it's a matter of good science.
Find out what the science says in episode 2 of #TheOyster
Prefer to watch live?
Catch the episode in real-time every week 7pm EST or 11am AEST on Facebook.

Leadership requires a deep understanding of the self and what it is to be human.
Whether you believe we are in the third or fourth industrial revolution there is no denying that the ways in which technology is now enabling us to interact with one another is unprecedented.
As a result, C-suite executives are required to cope with the exponential rate of change and flux that these interactions bring about.
This means continual improvement, constant innovation and the ability to understand and predict what will change (and what won't) has already become business as usual for the companies that are thriving.
Want to catch The Oyster in real-time, uncut and unedited? Tune into our weekly FB Live - find out more at: https://www.thechangemakers.org.au/the-oyster
Need help with your next business decision? Connect with Lauren on LinkedIn to start a conversation today: https://www.linkedin.com/in/laurenkress89/

This week we're talking about market penetration - how to make sure your brand is getting out there, getting noticed and being remembered by your potential customers.
Based off the work of Byron Sharp in his book "How Brands Grow" the 7 things you need to do are:
1. Continuously reach all buyers of a category
2. Ensure the bran is easy to buy
3. Get noticed - make sure your brand is salient
4. Refresh and rebuild memory structures
5. Create and use effective brand assets
6. Be consistent
7. Stay competitive
I'll also be exploring some of these concepts more in my lunch and learn session at MOBLE in Pyrmont this week on Thursday the 19th of April, 2018 at 1pm we're we'll be looking at how to create memorable associations with your brand and the 6 traits of sticky content.

For more episodes on the science behind better business don't forget to SUBSCRIBE to The Oyster with Lauren Kress
Tonight I'm talking about the importance of evidence-based marketing with the help of Prof Byron Sharp and his book "How Brands Grow"
I talk through some of the laws shared in this book and the common assumptions trumped by marketers that are simply not backed by the evidence - things like "customer retention is more important than customer acquisition", and "our customers buy from us because our brand is special and different".
Have a great Easter and I'll be back in two weeks time to talk about some of the strategies you can adopt to grow your business brand.

Tonight I'm talking about risk management and how to know when you're ready to start a business. I cover:
- Creating a financial safety net to make sure you're not desperate for work
- The importance of bootstrapping (even with funding!)
- Some of the signs for being ready or, as the case may be, not ready to make the transition into fully immersing yourself in your business
The books I'd recommend reading to help you with this further, are books I've recommended before which are:
- The Personal MBA by Josh Kaufmann: https://personalmba.com/
- Small Business, Big Vision by Adam Toren and Matthew Toren : http://smallbusinessbigvision.com/
Ps. Correction - I started my business part way through 2016 - it was at the beginning of the financial year for 2017 (which is July 2016)

In celebration of International Women's day I share two of my favourite books for revolution and progress that ask us to be humble, reflective and empathic - and not hateful, angry or fall into the trap of victimising ourselves or others.
The two books I talk about are Lean In by Sheryl Sandberg and Empathy: A handbook for revolution by Roman Kznaric
For those of you who haven't seen my video on the drama triangle - there are ways that we can get out of thinking like a victim and becoming empowered as a "survivor" you can watch it here

What do business owners need to think about to get their 1st customer through the door?
When you start out as a business owner, sales and lead generation can be particularly daunting.
One of the big problems I see with entrepreneurs who are new to sales is that they think that in order to be a "good" sales person they need to push their product or service onto people.
This is a common misconception of what sales is - what sales is really about is finding the people who need your help - and then talking to them about how you think you might be a good fit for what their needing.
When we've talked about marketing where talking about making sure that your product or service meets the need of your target audience.
When we talk about sales we need to think about how we deal with real prospective customers to make sure their specific needs are met. A good salesperson will work out how what your business does fits with what your prospective customer needs.

In this double-episode we're talking about how to demonstrate the value your business creates with a meaningful and memorable story.
We explore the core human drivers and motivations behind consumer behaviour and look at the tools that can help you craft your copy.
Tonight's question for our viewers and listeners is: What are you going to use to start telling the story of your business?
Please share your thoughts below along with any suggestions you have for telling your customers about who you are.
The 3 books I shared with you tonight (in order) are:
1. Braving the Wilderness by Brene Brown
2. The Lean Startup by Eric Ries
3. Creativity Inc. by Ed Catmull

So excited about sharing this episode with you tonight!
This week we're talking about building out the very foundation of your business:
Your Business Vision, Mission and Values.
This is what we've been working towards over the past few weeks... In episode 2 we talked about finding your passion.
Then, in episode 3, we talked about how to get to know your audience so we could start to find ways to commercialize your passion.
This week, we're talking about: Your Vision - why does your company exist - where is it headed?
Your Mission - Who are you and what do you stand for? Your Values - What are the core principles that will guide your behaviour and the behaviour of others who work with you?
The book I refer to in tonight's episode is "Small Business, Big Vision" by Adam Toren and Matthew Toren.
This week's question is: "What steps are you taking right now to start your business?" Leave your comments below and let's get talking about starting a business.

Following on from episode 2 on why your "WHY" is so important, I delve into getting to know your audience in order to commercialise your passion.
My 3 practical tips for market research will help you get to know your audience - preferably before you even think about starting your business.
These are:
1. Find out if there is a market
First consider some broad, basic questions. I recommend using Josh Kaufman's market research checklist from the Personal MBA you can access online here
2. Blog about it first Experiment with content to start building an audience.
I recommend reading Austin Kleon's book Show Your Work to understand more about how sharing what you're doing with the world will help you build an audience and iterate your work.
3. Know what results your audience value What results do your audience want that you can offer? A great book to read to understand the power of a audience + results-driven approach to marketing is Absolute Value by Itamar Simonson & Emanuel Rosen
Also...I talk about building personas of your prospective customers that consider their mindset, drivers and motivators.

Tonight's 'Straya Day special episode is about Dale Carnegie's global sensation of a book: How to Win Friends and Influence People.
With over 16 million copies sold, I dig into why this book, written in 1936, continues to be a bestseller 80 years after it was first published. In just over 15 minutes I cover many of the key principles of the book looking at each section and discussing how this book was way ahead of it's time.
I wanted to feature this book early on in my series as I think it is an important book for combatting bullying in the workforce - instead emphasising the importance of being genuine, kind, friendly AND using this to thrive in your career. In fact, I am of the opinion that this book is the first book on emotional intelligence - published way before we recognised EQ as a "thing".
It also shows that the whole "authenticity" buzz word that brands have been throwing around for the past couple of years ain't new. In fact Carnegie humanises sincerity and authenticity, in a way that quite ironically, publishers of content on "being authentic" in articles like "the social media trends every brand must know" do not. I will be back again soon on Monday night with Episode 3 on "It all starts with your audience".
Leave a question for my next episode on market research and understanding your audience in the comment section below or on instagram or twitter @laurenkress89 and I'll answer it during my next episode.

So many entrepreneurs talk about finding your "WHY?" but what do they mean by that, and why is it so important?
Starting a business isn't for everyone and asking yourself "what should I do with my life?" is the first step in thinking about the direction for yourself and your potential business.
The last thing you want is to be stuck working your arse off towards a goal that you actually, when it comes down to it, have no desire to achieve (!)
In this second episode I talk about the first step of starting your business and why your "WHY?" is so important. For me, the first step really boils down to thinking about it like this: if money wasn't an obstacle - if you had enough money guaranteed for the rest of your life - what would you do?
This is where the question "what should I do with my life?" needs to come from - from a place that is about your happiness not making a quick (or slow) buck.
Once you have your reason for starting a business you're able to set your business vision as well as your short and long-term goals towards living the life you desire - not the life fashioned for you by others.

In this first episode, I speak about the five books that have gotten me through my first year and a half as a business co-founder and entrepreneur.
They are:
"Steal Like an Artist" by Austin Kleon
"Rising Strong" by Brene Brown
"Status Anxiety" by Alain de Botton
"The Organised Mind" by Daniel Levitin
"The Personal MBA" by Josh Kaufman